An unexpected addition to the Italian Market is Biederman’s, Philly’s Jewish appetizing store. This is THE place in Philly to get hand-cut lox and other types of smoked fish, including the best whitefish salad. They also have caviar, pickled herring, halva, baked goods, and other house-made foods such as soups, salads, and grain bowls.
The store is open Wednesday-Sunday, or you can order ahead (follow on Instagram) to snag one of their weekend brunch boards, which come with a variety of fish, toppings, bagels, and danish.
Philly has really upped its bagel game recently. Here are some good places to get bagels in the city: Korshak’s (1700 S. 10th, Passyunk) Bagels, schmears, sandwiches, and a side of poetry. See photo top of page. Pre-order on Instagram or walk-up.
Kismet: A covid-era pop-up that now has a storefront in Fishtown.
Follow on Instagram for details about retail partners and their fun, delicious (and always sellout) collabs, such as this one with Nardone Pasta Company – cacio e pepe bagel with long hot schmear, egg, arugula, and home-made fennel sausage & baily with home-made mozzarella, crispy prosciutto, and salsa verde. Bagels, bailys, sandwiches, etc. in the shop.
They also occasionally offer bagel and bialy making classes out of their kitchen in Kensington. Check out the size of that mixer! Follow on Instagram for details. (113 E. Girard)
Kettle Black- their charcoal bagel is on our list of must-tries. They also have delicious looking pastries and bread. (631 N. 2nd, Northern Liberties)
Essen Bakery: THE Jewish bakery in Philly. Bagels, plus great breads , pastries, and cookies (1437 E. Passyunk)
Secrets of Philadelphia 
Those look like some good bagels, and cacio e pepe sounds like a delicious bagel flavour! Places in Cleveland usually just do Asiago as the cheese flavour for some reason, which is good, but it sounds even better with pepper. There’s actually a pretty good place to get bagels in Borough Market in London now, but I still hauled home a dozen from the US which are patiently waiting in my freezer for bagel emergencies.
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Bagel emergencies… funny! I have a loaf of sourdough in my freezer for the same reason.
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I have a loaf of sliced up sourdough in there too for my daily toast needs. Also a baguette, pita, and some toasting (English) muffins. My freezer is honestly mostly bread! If I leave nice bread out I will just eat it all the day I buy it, so freezing it is the only solution if I need it to last longer.
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I bought 5 loaves the last time I went to the good bread store. Such a difference between the good stuff and “regular.” Plus, so easy to pull out a slice when you need it.
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